The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, has issued a clarion call to the clergy to play a leading role in the implementation of the “Operation clean your frontage” programme.
According to him, as preachers of the gospel who have a large following, their active participation in the programme would drive the interest of their listeners and ensure the success of the programme.
“We need the clergy if this programme will be a success. Our people respect and follow the guidelines you provide them in your sermons.
“I appeal to you to use your platforms to preach about ‘Operation clean your frontage’ for them to come on board and work to keep their environment clean,” he stated.
The Minister was speaking in Accra yesterday during a meeting with the clergy drawn from the region.
He said he was confident that the involvement of the clergy could be the foundation upon which the operation takes off and become successful.
He noted that the Greater Accra Regional Coordination Council (RCC) would be engaging in mass sensitisation and awareness creation on the “Operation clean your frontage” on February 1 to kick-start the programme.
Mr Quartey said that about 30,000 personnel would be deployed onto major roads in Accra including Makola, CBD, Lapaz, Osu, Madika, First Light, Abossey Okai, Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, among others, for the sensitisation exercise.
Already, he said the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region have been tasked to establish waste transfer sites to enable collection and disposal of waste in the communities.
He indicated that about 1,400 personnel who would be operating as a taskforce have been recruited and undergoing training, adding that RCC was projecting to engage 4,000 personnel.
While the church encourages its members to engage in the cleaning of the environment, MrQuartey stated that the RCC would not relent in its efforts to change the sanitation situation in Accra.
He stated that “attitudinal and behavioral change was needed to make Accra clean.”
Methodist Bishop of Accra, Rt Reverend Emmanuel BorlabiBortey, expressed concern about shortfalls in the implementation of such laudable programmes and urged the Regional Minister to ensure the operation was sustainable.
He said the clergy was in full support of programmes that ensures quality of life and promote the wellbeing of Ghanaians.
Rev. Cyril Fayose, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, welcomed the programme saying “as Christians, it is our call to protect the environment. It is in line with our commission and we are in full support of it.”
He said the Council was already piloting a waste recycling project targeted at helping to reduce the waste challenge in Accra and would roll it out to other regions soon.
Rev. Andrew Odonkor, District Minister of Accra Central District, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, noted with concern the proliferation of illegal structures including containers at unauthorised areas, especially in Accra.
This, he said, was responsible for lots of filth and further frustrate households and businesses in their efforts to promote clean environment.
Source: ghanaiantimes
